Note: I didn't list a few handguns in this video for a few reasons. Yes, there are other great options out there, but other guns can't be concealed as easy as the guns that are in this video. Pistols like the Walther PPQ or the Taurus TX22 will make my top 5 list, just not this one.
22plinkster I’m a little disappointed as the TX22 has all the things you want in a personal defense weapon!! It’s super reliable, with the +3 extensions you get 19+1 rounds of 22lr, and with a 4.1 inch barrel it’s pretty accurate!!
@@jeffdobbs6555 And the Taurus is bigger than any of the guns I listed. The TX22 is the size of a full size pistol. But yes, it would be a good option if you didn't mind the size.
It is possible that the Ruger 8 shot .22LR revolver is the most reliable and safest self-defense pistol in rimfire. The only negative is that it can't use a silencer. *How heavy is the TRIGGER PULL ??
I am 71yrs old. I decided to change from a 9mm pistol to a 22lr pistol for EDC self defense. This is why. The 9mm recoil precipitated a tear in my aortic to rupture. I was very very fortunate to survive after major surgery, and a stroke which followed. So it wasn't that my hands couldn't deal with the recoil, but my old body couldn't. FYI.
Maybe try out the Walther PDP F series, they where made for women or older people with not as much strength as a young man. The slide spring is softer, and for some reason, the recoil is reduced by 20% compared to a regular PDP. Also the trigger has a shorter reset for people with shorter fingers. I can understand that you don't want to test your luck with 9mm, but it might be worth trying out.
@@bobshelton9049 Maybe a small Beretta 21 Bobcat 22 LR with a tip-up barrel would be a good pocket carry gun. You don't have to rack the slide to chamber a round. Good for people with hand problems like me. Actually, my pocket pistol is a Beretta 950BS 25 ACP. The 25 ACP is more reliable than a 22 LR but is more expensive.
The best answer I've heard as to the "best" caliber for self defense: The most powerful cartridge you can shoot accurately and afford to train with regularly.
I carry a 22lr for two reasons ...1 uts super light... I really don't notice the weight at all...2 I can carry alot ot ammo....glock 44 with pro mag magazines 18rounds each.... in my humble opinion it's more about your 22lr ammo .. federal punch .... or cci mini mag or any cci high velocity...in self defense it's about shot placement with the 22lr... in my humble opinion. Great video 22plinkster.... please keep this stuff coming..
After several failed attempts to get the wife confident using a semiautomatic I purchased a Ruger LCR in 22. She had a hard time chambering a round in semi autos,hated the empty cartridge ejection. The 22 revolver is simple and goes BOOM every time with cci stingers. Better to hit with a 22 than miss with a 9mm/45 acp
Wow, another rational person on the internet! 1. Anything’s better than nothing. 2. Only carry what you can shoot effectively. 3. Both eyes open, always. 4. You’ll never be as effective when SHTF. 5. Most people will never need to use it. 6. Enjoy life.
Wow someone else that actually realizes 22lr is plenty deadly. And it's plenty effective especially if it's ur only option available. If it comes down to using my fists and feet or using a 22lr then I'm picking up the 22lr every single fucking time. These idiots that seem to think 22 is non lethal are fucking fools with absolutely no real experience with guns whatsoever
He brings up a very good point that some people need a very light weapon to manipulate. For self defense, a small caliber weapon you can use beats a larger caliber gun you can't use 100% of the time.
My grandmother had really bad arthritis in her hands but wanted a decent little pistol so she had protection. She ended up getting a little 22 automatic and absolutely loved it! Her arthritis was so bad that she couldn't even rack the slide so I would always come over every week and make sure it was loaded and ready to go but put away and had the safety on! She was a very frail 85 year old woman in there was no way she could fire anything bigger than a 22 short! I'm really glad that she always had it, it made her feel very protected and safe. Even though 22 may not be the best choice for self-defense it sure does beat not having any firearm! I have seen very many self defense shootings resolved with a 22 firearm. And for the people that can't handle anything bigger than a 22 it is an absolutely perfect little round that will do the trick in a pinch. I mean after all I don't think I've ever seen a burglar say,"oh you shot me with a 22 so it doesn't count I'm going to continue with the mugging"
One time I was robbing an old lady with a knife and she shot me three times. At first I felt like I was about to pass out and die but then I saw that she only had a .22. My body immediately pushed out the bullets and healed within seconds, while I took her wallet and walked away. She shot me in the back five times but I didn't even feel the bullets, I only heard them falling to the ground after they hit me. If she carried a .32 ACP, I wouldn't have been so lucky
I purchased a Walthers P22 for my sister she being up in age. I took it to the range with a host of different ammunitions and shot 400 rounds of everything. The first 50 rounds had some failures to feed and extract and some misfires. However after that the gun smoothed out and from there it shot flawlessly. Accuracy was great. From 20 feet all shots were well within a 4 inch circle. Last month Sister came to visit and a trip to the range and another 300 to 400 rounds were fired with no issues. Her small hands and elderly fingers had no trouble with the manual of arms and I was pleased. She has a 38 SPL that is her normal self defence arm but it hurts her hands to shoot and does not practice with it . So now she can go to the range and shoot cheap.
I have a form of Muscular Dystrophy that deteriorates the nerves and muscles in the extremities. I have been losing strength at an incrementally increasing level. I have a Glock 19 gen 4 and I attempted to work with it last week and unfortunately found that I am unable to work the slide. I am glad you did this video because I fall into the category. It's a difficult pill to swallow because I started with a 1911 .45, moved to the Beretta 92FS and finally striker fired M&P 9 & the Glock 19. I have an M&P 22 which is going to be my go to self defense tool until I get to my AR. I have always been a better rifleman than pistol shooter. It's just a matter of time though and I will have to have help with that too. Currently, I enjoy shooting my Single Six and Henry 22 the most! Enjoy your channel and again, thanks for touching on this issue!!!
Perhaps the easy racking slide of S&W's Shield 380 EZ or 9mm EZ? They are bigger then the normal Shield's. The tip up barrel little Berettas in 22LR, 25/32 ACP (one or both of those might be discontinued), I think they were named tomcat & bobcat? They are wide for their size & their DA isn't very light but can be carried SA on safe if memory serves me (double check).
the old Smith and Wesson 422 would be a fantastic gun for you. It is very light and extremely reliable. It has a full sized grip and a single action trigger, so you don’t need a lot of squeeze strength to shoot it. The slide is only a partial slide, so racking it requires almost no effort. I’ve had one for 20 years. You can probably find one for next to nothing.
Thanks for the ideas. But, I have an M&P 22lr that I am able to operate. I am unable to work most DA revolvers. I am going to sell my Glock and I plan on getting an AR 9mm pistol. I like the Brigade Arms 9mm with an 8" barrel. That's going to be my new home defense firearm.
Montana Pete: Aquilachill is right. The S&W 380 EZ is supposed to have the easiest slide to rack in the industry, and almost anything centerfire will have a lighter trigger than rimfire. Might be a win/win for you.
I knew that you would raise the issue of the safety on the Ruger SR22. I bought one right after they came out. I thought it would be something that my wife and I could use for a fun day of shooting with the grandkids. I shoot mostly 1911s and various Sig SAO guns. My wife loves the S&W 22 Compact. So we both were immediately put off by the mechanics of the safety. However, I gifted it to my daughter-in-law and it is her only gun. She loves it because for her sweeping the safety up is not an issue. She has no “muscle memory” that would cause her to be confused. Her Dad was a police chief and taught her to shoot using a snub nose 38 special. She has taken several training classes with the SR22 and has her CCL. I have watched her shoot and I would not want to be on the receiving end. Another great video.
My roommate has nerve problems and cant handle larger guns effectively, they can shoot my p22 like a champ though. Too many range commandos and salesmen refuse to understand that stopping power is meaningless if you cant even handle the weapon.
SR22 is my main self defense gun and 100% confident I can put a stop to a moving deadly threat with 2-3shots. Bought the P22 just because it's German made as a backup edc gun.
I am probably going to replace my 21a daily carrier for that Ruger LCP2 22lr. I really want a semi auto with an extractor for primer failures. I also sometimes get a stovepipe. I shoot only CCI Mini-Mags and JHP but not Velocitors. My 21a is VERY old though - almost 25 years.
@@BrandonIT1337 with the Pop up barrel any malfunction is fixed in seconds with a little weekly practise, worse case scenario type deals.. I practise with my Beretta in one where I dropped my mag... Single shot mod, flipping the barrell open for each shot.. gotten pretty good , a shot about every second an a half..fired accurately
@@BrandonIT1337 my Bobcat is also a 1994 model so older. When and if I ever have to flip the barrel open it goes all the way over and usually empties itself. I noticed I got some bad CCI a few years back when the 22 shortage was going on, I started using the new Thunderbolts and have never really had any issues. Just saying
I used to hate the idea of carrying .22 for self defense and would've laughed at anyone who did. Problem is...now my shooting hand is arthritic and there's days it hurts to even grip my handgun tightly enough to control recoil. I'll take a look at these next time I'm at the gun shop
Just a thought... The newest version of the M&P 2.0Compact 9mm with the improved trigger has very little recoil. Flat shooter. I know because I own it👍. High sights. Accurate and reliable as he'l-l*
Hey Plinkster. Like this video. I’d love to see the same type video for .22 mag and .32 acp handguns. In my opinion, the .32 acp is underrated, and I wish there were more handgun options for it. Many of those who struggle with .380 and up, could handle the .32 acp and would be well served by it, in a decent platform.
I remember I was at a local gun shop and a middle aged man was there with his elderly mother. They were looking for a self defense gun for mom and the staff seemed dead set on having her get a 9mm semi-auto striker fired handgun. I watched as the old lady struggled for 15 mins trying to rack the damn slide. The whole time I just wanted to scream, get he a revolver....jeez.
My mom is getting her license to carry and she is 55 with rheumatoid arthritis. This video was a lot of help picking out a firearm for her. I think we are going with the SR22.
Ditto!! My sister and sister-in-law both have arthritis and have trouble with a 380 or 9mm. I bought the TX22 and like shooting it. At the range, both could handle the gun well and shoot with respectable results. My M&P 2.0 9mm is way too much for them. The Glock 42 is...well, I don't like it (too small for me hands) and my brother is trading that in for a TX22. Yes, we are old farts, but enjoying the 2A!!
My wife, my mom, my mother in law all struggle with 380 and up. 22lr reliability has been a problem but after my p22 had a little work done, it's a great little pistol for anyone struggling to handle larger calibers.
You should also look at the Smith & Wesson 43 C; an 8 shoot 22 LR Air Lite revolver made with aluminum; weighs only 11 oz. Great pocket gun and shoots great.
In Colorado it's legal for an 18-year-old to open carry and I personally carry a Ruger SR22 using a CCI standard ammunition never had an issue out of it every time I take it to the range it runs perfectly I've never had a jail it's super easy clean and it's really fun gun and I've hit the mini Coke cans at 35 yards with it
Good video. I have the Ruger (LCR and LCP) as well as the SR 22. Great guns. Totally, ridiculously reliable. Even with the best, top of the line ammo I get the occasional misfire, or failure to eject round. Murphy’s Law....If it’s gonna happen, it will happen when you can least afford it to happen. In the end, I carry the LCR. Hands down!!
TX22 still seems like the best option but I'm Taurus biased too. Me and my wife carry a Taurus G2C with Olight PL Mini 2s and I have a vortex viper red dot on mine. Although I have many other very expensive firearms, it's my go to now for concealed carry. 100% reliable and incredibly accurate.
i got a taurus g3c too and it has 0 malfunctions but not as accurate as my hkvp9or... for the price i don't see why g3c does not sell out everywhere they are definitely top notch for what you pay
My wife and i both carry. Her favorite is the Walther P22Q. Awesome smooth accurate easy to load and chamber. Not too heavy or bulky. Perfect for smaller hands. She has several guns in various calibers but shes happiest with the .22. If shes comfortable and confident im perfectly happy with her defending herself with it. Its not "better than nothing". In capable hands its deadly.
LCP2 with 11 round, a safety, small, and fits great in pocket or purse. I assume a laser is coming, else LCR. The SR does shoot nice, but hide ability factors in.
My girlfriend was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a few years back, I’ve been researching what .22 pistol I should get her for self defense. This is the first video I’ve seen acknowledging the needs of those affected by this disease! Those that go through it are troopers if you know someone with it you know. Thanks!
Comment not related to shooting, but it definitely keeps me shooting. I have inflammatory arthritis, diagnosed as RA. I found that avoiding gluten and taking curcumin helps more than the medication that I used to take, and no need for routine blood tests!
Thank you Plinkster. I bought an SR22 pistol years ago and I have yet to have a complaint with it. Every 22 review has the SR22 somewhere in the top 3. Seriously every top# review. I think it really is the best 22lr handgun. I just feel like any hand gun that is consistantly in the top 3 if not higher is great. That's why I say SR22 is #1.
@Dem 1 I can't find a single video of anybody getting shot in the face or knees and continuing to fight. the biggest man in the world will fall if you shoot him in the kneecap or face for that matter.
@Israel Poulard My best friend got shot with anti tank ammo and he was still able to crawl with only the remaining top half of his body and his guts falling out towards the attacker, outwrestle him and choke him out! Guns debunked.
@@rubetornabene8543 I had a buddy get hosed down by 20 mm anti aircraft rounds from a phalanx completely liquefying his body and left him as nothing more than a puddle of blood and feces and he still managed to get up and get 300 confirmed kills in Iraq before he died 16 months later from choking on a sandwich. So I dont go out with anything less than 5"54cal naval artillery strapped to my hip.
The laser you have on the Ruger is what I have on my M&P. That is what I started training my daughter when she was 12. That will be hers when she's old enough.
I just recently purchased a new Taurus 942. Revolver in 22LR. It was defective out of the box, would not ignite any primers. Sent it back to Taurus, after waiting 3 weeks for an update they finally answered their customer service line. They said the frame was so defective they would need to destroy the firearm and issue me a new one, replacing the serial number. Wait 8 weeks for delivery and I have to do an FFL transfer AND pay for it. Just a heads up.
I went with a Tx22 and got mag extensions so I’m working with 20 rd mags. You wanna talk about self defense...well 20 rounds should do it. Threaded barrel....reliable as hell.
@@dragnridr05 You completely missed the point. What do you think a firefight is? You fight, in this case, to the possible death. Is that your mentality, to quit and accept death when someone's fighting back by returning fire b/c your garbage .22LR didn't do it's job quick enough? Why do you think COPS don't carry .22LR and neither do soldiers....because it's dumb and they care about their lives more than dum-dums with their .22LR
@@SandaBoxing A well placed shot with a 22lr can drop ANYONE like a sack of potatoes. Ask ANYONE who works in a hospital or as a nurse. In a firefight, it won't matter what either side is shooting. It becomes a matter of life or death. I could just as easily kill a person with a 4.5mm metal BB gun with a well placed shot. Majority if not all the governmental roles like police and military use 9mm or high because that is the standard that they ALL use. Easier to make one caliber for all than to make dozens of different calibers. Remember that it was a .22lr that almost killed Reagan. If a .22lr is enough to put a 550lb boar, then it can EASILY put down a 200lb man. It's all in how much you practice and get to know how the gun handles.
@@dragnridr05 (1) You need to understand what a SELF DEFENSE shooting is first, child. No kidding that any bullet can kill. (2) Why doesn't it matter in a firefight what caliber either side is shooting. Why do Police & Military spends billions trying looking for the best caliber? (3) Reagan was shot by assassination; are you an assassin now? Do you go around shooting your attacker by surprise? Wouldn't this make you, the actual attacker? See how absurd you are? Shooting a boar is hunting; you're shooting an animal by surprise from a distance away. Are you hunting humans by surprise now too? See how silly you are because you don't understand what a SELF DEFENSE shooting is?
@@neptuneomen9579 Taurus would likely be better. Higher capacity, a little less expensive, equally reliable, no magazine lock and dry fire safe, so much easier to practice empty with than the Ruger. Ruger shoots and feels nice, but they got stuck in target gun mindset when they designed this one, IMO.
@@shanetoumey2835 Yeah, it's their 942, I believe; it is a rather nice looking revolver. For me, it was a toss-up between that or the Charter Arms Pathfinder Lite (which is what I chose).
22plinkster, I'm 73. I've got LCP2 .22, LCR22, Walter P22 plus Beretta21a, Taurus PT22 poly. Never had any problems with any of them. My favorite? LCP2 .22. Wish I could carry bigger caliber but I'm one of those 20%er that cannot fire larger caliber cause of arthritis. Actually I think it may be 30-40%. Thanks for video.
This video is very well timed with Lehigh Defense's announcement that they'll be making the Extreme Defender round available in .22LR. I currently have the PPK/S, PPQ, and LCR in .22, and look to expand the collection.
@@CrimsomLeo That's why I got it, too. The .380 was damn near impossible to find, at the time, so I said I'll just get the .22 for plinking. I do carry it, sometimes, when I need a really small carry gun.
@@206guy7 There's an article on TFB (The Firearms Blog). www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/12/11/sneak-peek-lehigh-defense-develops-22lr-ammo-with-solid-xd-bullets/
I started out carrying a .40, went to a 9mm for a few years, carried a smaller .380 on occasion. I can handle all of them fine, I’m a male in my 30’s and I workout, I’ve also shot guns since I was 16. I like to shoot my carry guns frequently and at various ranges, so they get wear and I go through a decent amount of ammo. The last couple of mass shootings have taught me that ammo markers and stores that sell ammunition don’t care about their customers and will raise the price for any reason they see fit, any excuse they can come up with, it’s worse than buying gas on a holiday weekend. 17 years ago when I got my first 9mm it was $5.99 for a box of 50, it went up to about $13.99, then during the pandemic, $49.99-$59.99 for the exact same thing! That’s when I got realistic about the off chance that I would ever need to use a firearm in defense. If I do ever need it, I could care less if the person I have to shoot lives or dies, the only thing I’d be doing would be trying to stop him, I’m sure with my capabilities I can adapt and improvise to make a .22 work in that regard. I’m certainly not going to be a little pawn for everybody in the industry to line their pockets with my money. I have other responsibilities, spending .50 cents to $1 every single time I pull the trigger is not only limiting, it’s ridiculous. A cartridge is not worth .50 cents, certainly not $1, .30 cents is even expensive for what it is, especially given that the majority of them you ever fire will just be making a hole in a piece of paper. So my using a .22 is partly because I think I’m good enough I don’t NEED anything more, and partly because I’m not going to be a sucker and buy into this self defense as a hobby thing. I mean the ammo makers and gun writers aren’t stupid, they’ve got a lot of people convinced they’re going to be in a gunfight one day and they need the nastiest most expensive rounds out there because “what is your life worth”, they’re very clever. I’m pretty sure they’ve taken over a lot of people from golfing. I used to be a sucker tbh, dress around my carry gun, carry only premium Hollow points in calibers on often exact same firearms police carried…. After having carried for a decade and a half and spent WAY too much money on a lot of that stuff, I’m kinda over it. I love shooting and I still carry a gun, mostly in a sling pack with other stuff, but I only use and spend my money on one caliber now, .22
Couldn't have said it better myself. I like 9mm, but these prices are simply ridiculous. How can I practice proficiently at the range without spending exorbitant amounts of money just to keep my skills in check? I'm thinking that 22 LR is all I need for most cases. What matters most isn't really the type of caliber one uses but shot placement. With 22, I can practice all day and not break my piggy bank and improve my precision and accuracy drastically. I'm even experimenting with a binary trigger on my Ruger Charger. Anyways, what type of 22 do use for EDC? I use Federal Premium 22 LR Punch.
I've owned an SR22 for many years. I do occasionally carry it as a backup gun. The safety has never bothered me as it's the only handgun I own with a manual safety. The "upside down" safety is right side up to me. I love everything about the SR22. Great ergonomics, great trigger, conceals well and looks good. You can't go wrong with this gun unless you're a manual safety snob.
I’ve had the Walther P-22 for over a decade and have put over 50,000 rounds through it; have replaced normal wear parts and have been through a lot of recoil springs. The best thing I ever did was switch to an aftermarket captive recoil spring assembly; these lasts 2-3 times as long as the Walther springs. My Walther is still reliable with with bulk ammo and 99.9% with CCI Mini-Mags. I’ve never been a big believer of rimfire defensive firearms but if I had to I’d trust this firearm to save my life if I couldn’t carry centerfire.
for some reason mini mags get stuck in the chamber on my p22, unless I fire it or use a blade/screwdriver then it'll come out, but just racking the slide to eject it wont do anything sometimes, now with standard velocity with no copper plated bullet, it ejects just fine...
There are many, many pistols with the safety this way- Beretta 92, lots of CZ and similar, and basically most DA/SA pistols with external hammer. What's the big deal, just practice.
@@eldritchshiner If you only ever practice with one type of firearm, good. But it can become confusing when you regularly shoot multiple firearms and 3 out of 4 have a standard safety and one has a reversed safety.
@@eldritchshiner I think it's to do with the de-cocking mechanism. Most double action pistols with a combine safety/de-cocker have the switch operate that way round. It must be for a mechanical design reason, probably simpler to do it that way or something like that.
@@neptuneomen9579 SR 22 is a great, quality gun. But after buying a TX22 it is now my favorite. Grip fits my hand better, extremely reliable. I haven't had a single misfire with any price ammo. Sights and trigger excellent. Love that it has a safety, and I carry with 16 +1 of cci velocitors. Have bad autherits in wrists but can practice without discomfort. Hope this helps
thank you for self defense info. The 22 caliber is good for a senior lady to start with. I am concerned about the kickback of a gun and availability of the amo. thank you...
Rafael Ruiz I do the same, put over 3 thousand through mine, a couple misfires. A little wear on the slide. Doesn’t dirty up much, it balances nice too.
I have both the sr22 and the lcr 22. The sr22 is just a joy to shoot. The lcr is really hard to get good groups in, I can effectively shoot my sr22 at 7-15 yards but I can't do the same with the lcr :/ I really try to get better at the revolver but for some reason it's way harder to shoot for me.
I took a semester in college called "Organized Crime" where we learned that the 22 caliber was preferred by MAFIA hit-men. Effective and relatively quiet.
out of a short barrel, there's enough power to penetrate the skull but not enough to exit so it will bounce around inside making tapioca pudding suppressed and no one will hear it more than 15 feet away out of a revolver, there aren't even casings left behind to trace
Speaking strictly self defense the old adage about rimfire is revolvers are more dependable so for me I'd have to go with the revolver in this video hands down.
I have the M&P and SR22. The M&P if you have a big hand fits great and it’s a full size pistol. The SR22 when I held it for the first time. Right away I thought what a neat little Gun to carry. I did replace the Guide Rod with a Tandemkross and the Gun cycles just about everything. I would add to this list esp. for WheelGun shooters and I love WheelGuns. The S&W model 63, 8 Shot 3 in barrel.
I find, especially in Summer, that I usually have on me the Ruger LCP II in 22 LR. This pistol is a jam-o-matic with everything but CCI Mini Mags. The gun has NEVER misfired or failed to feed or eject with the Mini Mags. So that's what I carry in it.
Feeling ok? Thanks for the content. The endless debate over whether or not 22 LR is viable wasn’t even considered here and I appreciate that. As many people said it’s a 22 but statistically more people are killed with 22 handguns in the other probably because there’s so many of them. I have one that I do carry for self-defense, it’s a tack driver, I have like 1000 rounds through it it’s not even a year old, but I can put all 10 shots in a 3 inch circle doing a mag dump at 50 feet. If that won’t save my life nothing will.
When I was young, in the 70's and 80', misfires with .22 rimfires was common. I don't shoot as much .22 rimfire as I used to. But it seems that in this millennium, .22 rimfire is much more reliable, at least in some guns. Can you comment on the reliability of 21st century .22 rimfire ammo?
Rimfire ammo has gotten MUCH better. There are also lots of affordable high quality .22 LR firearms out now. In general centerfire is still far more reliable.
@@library_dork1321 there are tons of stories out there of people defending themselves with 2 shot .22 derringers, so a 6 shot mag is 3 times better if you want to look at it that way.
Thank you 100 times over. I'm 70 years old. Not only do I have arthritis in my hands. I also have diabetic neuropathy, which has damaged the nerves in my hand. Even a .380 is quite painful for me to shoot. The 22lr is the ONLY thing I can still shoot comfortably. I run across "experts" who tell me that I should still carry a .380 or a 9mm for self defense as the pain won't matter in a life or death situation. But one of the key aspects of using any firearm for self defense is that you must be proficient and comfortable with the gun you shoot. And that requires three things ... practice, practice and practice. Which the average person won't do adequately if it's a painful experience. And if you get used the fact that firing the gun will be painful, the flinch factor starts to come into play. A 22lr in the right spot is far preferable to a 9mm that completely misses because you flinch.
No one's talking PRICE! how much on average are you guys dropping for these guns? Figured I'd get one for my 80 year old mom for a SUPER Hella late mother's day gift..
Side note : hope she doesn't decide to "make me dance" since we're in Texas.. Have me tap dancing in the kitchen to take the trash out 😂 #DanceMfdance 👈😉 😂
I believe they thought of this gun mostly as a trainer for their M&P's in 9 and 40, so capacity wasn't priority. Taurus or Keltec have some higher capacity 22's.
First one of your videos I've seen. I like the get to the point presentation style and easy going demeaner. Looking for a 22 for my sweetie who is not strong enough to be comfortable with larger caliber weapon but wants something to at least give her a chance when she is home alone. Great video for that.
Love how ppl say "I'd never use a 22lr for defense" it's better than nothing by far and plenty lethal with correct shot placement, and with the ability to mag dump and stay on target I think theyll be taken care of
Back when I was ill and weak in my hands, my go to was a ruger MkIII my brother scoffed " what can you do with that?" I replied put 10 in him, drop the magazine, reload and put 10 more in him. I believe it would at least discourage him as shots would go to head, chest and crotch. I now can use my Ruger 380. Learned to shoot pistol in the marines, at age 73 I am not Rambo, but I refuse to be a victim in my home
@@Bada_Boom78 ya I was jus going on the lines of it's better than nothing no doubt. If a 10/22 is the only rifle I have to fight with I'm gunna fight with it if a 22lr pistol is only option available for defense I'm gunna use everyday of the week and twice on Sundays. But of course a 9mm is what I would choose if I had the choice. I literally have all the calibers everyone hates and yet I love them to pieces. The whole 9mm ain't enough bs, the whole 223 ain't enough bs, 300 blackout is useless bs, 224 Valkyrie is garbage bs, 6.5 is the Gucci cartridge that's not needed cuz I got my granpappys 260 from 70 years ago bs and on an on and on
I picked up a Taurus PT 22 Poly. The ergonomy, fit, and finish are exceptional. I had zero failures with my first 91 rounds. I feel like they out-Beretta’d the Beretta Bobcat.
So you favor the ruger sr22...i don't blame you,it's a great little gun,just bought one today and i'm very happy with it...gonna carry it now and then,i just have to decide whether to load it with cci minimags,velocitors or the newly bought "Stangers"...decisions,decisions...😁
I beg to differ with the safety because on the draw pulling it out of your holster while gripping with your thumb get in the motion of flicking it up and I believe all Rugers are up because my P-Series are also.The down motion is just another movement but on the up you can do it as pulling it out of the holster and I believe my nickel bersa 380 is the same also .
The safety on the Ruger works opposite of most other safeties. Up is fire. Deal breaker for me. Had one for awhile and couldn't get used to it. Traded it for the MP22 full size and never looked back. Just picked up the MP22 compact and it's amazing!!! This would be my choice.
I was a patrol watch commander for a very long time in the murder capital of Florida and as such had to go to all the homicides. Most were typical, some stand out. One in particular was a guy laying on his back on the walkway to a house with a tiny little hole in the middle of his chest. He was threatening a 90 year old man who shot him through a door with a.... .22LR. One shot, DRT, never took a step. Yep, it'll get the job done if you do your part. Graveyards are full of doubters no more.
@snoopy dubnation First question, no. We carried .40's at the time; Second, I carry 9mm's, but don't dismiss outright .22LR as a defensive option. At this point in my life, I have better ones, but would later on if that's what I could handle. Standing over a stadium full of dead men at least gives me the first hand confidence that if I do my part, I can keep Darwinism valid.
@snoopy dubnation I think you're missing the point of the video...the larger discussion...and my comment(s). The .22LR is ABSOLUTELY an effective self defense round and has likely killed more people in defensive situations than 9s and 40s combined. Is it a first choice? Not for many, but for some it is an only choice, and for them it is a GREAT choice. Any gun is better than any knife in a self defense situation. Just because you (or I) can carry something more effective doesn't mean that it's a bad idea for someone with fewer choices. Could I carry something more devastating than a 9mm? Sure. I'm a 200lb ex-powerlifter. I'm frankly tired of the kick from setting off grenades in my hand for 30 years, so I carry a 9. To each his own. But saying someone is foolish for carrying what they can is not a winning argument, especially when the facts are lined up against you. If you want to carry a .45, great. Just don't go pissing on other's choices in different situations. Pistols are emergency weapons and 6 out of 7 people shot with them live...6 out of 7 people shot with long guns don't. So it's like debating about who's chihuaha is the meanest. They aren't all that. If you want to win, go 12ga.
I have a lot of handguns, but always seem to pick up my SR22 going out the door. Eats anything I feed it; never once jammed on me. I have a crimson laser sight, and soon I will be getting a few 15 round mags, thanks to 22 Plinkermiester
And if I didn’t get great reliability I wouldn’t carry it I didn’t just put it on and say well I hope this thing works and any carry gun you test a lot
Matt Barton Thx for the reply im considering the m&p c but leaning toward the sr22 . Do you have experience with both ? The sr may be a bit heavier but still very easy to conceal .
Note: I didn't list a few handguns in this video for a few reasons. Yes, there are other great options out there, but other guns can't be concealed as easy as the guns that are in this video. Pistols like the Walther PPQ or the Taurus TX22 will make my top 5 list, just not this one.
22plinkster I’m a little disappointed as the TX22 has all the things you want in a personal defense weapon!! It’s super reliable, with the +3 extensions you get 19+1 rounds of 22lr, and with a 4.1 inch barrel it’s pretty accurate!!
Over a hundred rimfires!!!
It's over 100!
@@jeffdobbs6555 And the Taurus is bigger than any of the guns I listed. The TX22 is the size of a full size pistol. But yes, it would be a good option if you didn't mind the size.
It is possible that the Ruger 8 shot .22LR revolver is the most reliable and safest self-defense pistol in rimfire. The only negative is that it can't use a silencer. *How heavy is the TRIGGER PULL ??
@@unitedstatesirie7431 It's not heavy, but it is a long trigger pull.
Enjoyed that. I might do a UK version. 'Top 5 sharp sticks for self defence'... Don't give up your gun rights gentlemen!
careful, they just outlawed sharpened pencils above 6 inches
One can still own firearms in the UK; but it takes some work.
Well said Sir, I pray someone is listening
@@scottcharney1091 oof yeah if you wanna spend years and thousands of dollars
"What if he's got a pointed stick?" "Shut up, you!" John Cleese.
I am 71yrs old. I decided to change from a 9mm pistol to a 22lr pistol for EDC self defense. This is why. The 9mm recoil precipitated a tear in my aortic to rupture. I was very very fortunate to survive after major surgery, and a stroke which followed. So it wasn't that my hands couldn't deal with the recoil, but my old body couldn't. FYI.
What 22 did you switch to? I am 79
Maybe try out the Walther PDP F series, they where made for women or older people with not as much strength as a young man. The slide spring is softer, and for some reason, the recoil is reduced by 20% compared to a regular PDP. Also the trigger has a shorter reset for people with shorter fingers. I can understand that you don't want to test your luck with 9mm, but it might be worth trying out.
I'm 31. I workout twice a day and I still carry a 22 😂
@@bobshelton9049 Maybe a small Beretta 21 Bobcat 22 LR with a tip-up barrel would be a good pocket carry gun. You don't have to rack the slide to chamber a round.
Good for people with hand problems like me. Actually, my pocket pistol is a Beretta 950BS 25 ACP. The 25 ACP is more reliable than a 22 LR
but is more expensive.
Check out the Keltec P17.
The best answer I've heard as to the "best" caliber for self defense: The most powerful cartridge you can shoot accurately and afford to train with regularly.
the best is the one you have on you when you need it
Truth 👌
@@royvincent9250 That's also true of *KNIVES!*
@@ChaplainDaveSparks absolutly whatever you have at hand
Throwing knives
2:49 - Walther P22
3:28 - Ruger LCP II
4:40 - Smith & Wesson M&P
5:54 - Ruger LCR
7:19 - Ruger SR22
You’re a gentleman
Why no S&W?
@@tomgarrett9232What? S&W is #3
I carry a 22lr for two reasons ...1 uts super light... I really don't notice the weight at all...2 I can carry alot ot ammo....glock 44 with pro mag magazines 18rounds each.... in my humble opinion it's more about your 22lr ammo .. federal punch .... or cci mini mag or any cci high velocity...in self defense it's about shot placement with the 22lr... in my humble opinion. Great video 22plinkster.... please keep this stuff coming..
Now in my mid 80s, I have switched from my Glock model 22 to my LCR in caliber 22.
After several failed attempts to get the wife confident using a semiautomatic I purchased a Ruger LCR in 22. She had a hard time chambering a round in semi autos,hated the empty cartridge ejection. The 22 revolver is simple and goes BOOM every time with cci stingers.
Better to hit with a 22 than miss with a 9mm/45 acp
STANGERS STANGERS STANGERS.
Wow, another rational person on the internet!
1. Anything’s better than nothing.
2. Only carry what you can shoot effectively.
3. Both eyes open, always.
4. You’ll never be as effective when SHTF.
5. Most people will never need to use it.
6. Enjoy life.
Great little gun for several reasons.
Wow someone else that actually realizes 22lr is plenty deadly. And it's plenty effective especially if it's ur only option available. If it comes down to using my fists and feet or using a 22lr then I'm picking up the 22lr every single fucking time. These idiots that seem to think 22 is non lethal are fucking fools with absolutely no real experience with guns whatsoever
Ok that settles it, I’m gonna try to get the LCR as my first gun.
He brings up a very good point that some people need a very light weapon to manipulate. For self defense, a small caliber weapon you can use beats a larger caliber gun you can't use 100% of the time.
That being said, my SR22 and my custom 10/22 takedown are two of my favorite guns to shoot!
My grandmother had really bad arthritis in her hands but wanted a decent little pistol so she had protection. She ended up getting a little 22 automatic and absolutely loved it! Her arthritis was so bad that she couldn't even rack the slide so I would always come over every week and make sure it was loaded and ready to go but put away and had the safety on! She was a very frail 85 year old woman in there was no way she could fire anything bigger than a 22 short! I'm really glad that she always had it, it made her feel very protected and safe. Even though 22 may not be the best choice for self-defense it sure does beat not having any firearm! I have seen very many self defense shootings resolved with a 22 firearm. And for the people that can't handle anything bigger than a 22 it is an absolutely perfect little round that will do the trick in a pinch. I mean after all I don't think I've ever seen a burglar say,"oh you shot me with a 22 so it doesn't count I'm going to continue with the mugging"
One time I was robbing an old lady with a knife and she shot me three times. At first I felt like I was about to pass out and die but then I saw that she only had a .22. My body immediately pushed out the bullets and healed within seconds, while I took her wallet and walked away. She shot me in the back five times but I didn't even feel the bullets, I only heard them falling to the ground after they hit me. If she carried a .32 ACP, I wouldn't have been so lucky
A laser is a great addition and encourages you to shoot with both eyes open. Thanks for sharing.
I purchased a Walthers P22 for my sister she being up in age. I took it to the range with a host of different ammunitions and shot 400 rounds of everything. The first 50 rounds had some failures to feed and extract and some misfires. However after that the gun smoothed out and from there it shot flawlessly. Accuracy was great. From 20 feet all shots were well within a 4 inch circle. Last month Sister came to visit and a trip to the range and another 300 to 400 rounds were fired with no issues. Her small hands and elderly fingers had no trouble with the manual of arms and I was pleased. She has a 38 SPL that is her normal self defence arm but it hurts her hands to shoot and does not practice with it . So now she can go to the range and shoot cheap.
2:40 Walther P22
3:30 Ruger LCP II 22LR
4:35 S&W M&P 22
5:51 Ruger LCR 22LR
7:13 Ruger SR22
The Walter P22 has the best trigger pull and most accurate even with a silencer on it !
Bless you
At 5:51 is Ruger LCR
No tx 22 weird
Larz Man
*XT 22
I have a form of Muscular Dystrophy that deteriorates the nerves and muscles in the extremities. I have been losing strength at an incrementally increasing level. I have a Glock 19 gen 4 and I attempted to work with it last week and unfortunately found that I am unable to work the slide. I am glad you did this video because I fall into the category. It's a difficult pill to swallow because I started with a 1911 .45, moved to the Beretta 92FS and finally striker fired M&P 9 & the Glock 19. I have an M&P 22 which is going to be my go to self defense tool until I get to my AR. I have always been a better rifleman than pistol shooter. It's just a matter of time though and I will have to have help with that too. Currently, I enjoy shooting my Single Six and Henry 22 the most! Enjoy your channel and again, thanks for touching on this issue!!!
Adding you to the prayer list Pete. Ya can never have too many.
Perhaps the easy racking slide of S&W's Shield 380 EZ or 9mm EZ? They are bigger then the normal Shield's.
The tip up barrel little Berettas in 22LR, 25/32 ACP (one or both of those might be discontinued), I think they were named tomcat & bobcat? They are wide for their size & their DA isn't very light but can be carried SA on safe if memory serves me (double check).
the old Smith and Wesson 422 would be a fantastic gun for you. It is very light and extremely reliable. It has a full sized grip and a single action trigger, so you don’t need a lot of squeeze strength to shoot it. The slide is only a partial slide, so racking it requires almost no effort.
I’ve had one for 20 years. You can probably find one for next to nothing.
Thanks for the ideas. But, I have an M&P 22lr that I am able to operate. I am unable to work most DA revolvers. I am going to sell my Glock and I plan on getting an AR 9mm pistol. I like the Brigade Arms 9mm with an 8" barrel. That's going to be my new home defense firearm.
Montana Pete: Aquilachill is right. The S&W 380 EZ is supposed to have the easiest slide to rack in the industry, and almost anything centerfire will have a lighter trigger than rimfire. Might be a win/win for you.
I knew that you would raise the issue of the safety on the Ruger SR22. I bought one right after they came out. I thought it would be something that my wife and I could use for a fun day of shooting with the grandkids. I shoot mostly 1911s and various Sig SAO guns. My wife loves the S&W 22 Compact. So we both were immediately put off by the mechanics of the safety. However, I gifted it to my daughter-in-law and it is her only gun. She loves it because for her sweeping the safety up is not an issue. She has no “muscle memory” that would cause her to be confused. Her Dad was a police chief and taught her to shoot using a snub nose 38 special. She has taken several training classes with the SR22 and has her CCL. I have watched her shoot and I would not want to be on the receiving end. Another great video.
My roommate has nerve problems and cant handle larger guns effectively, they can shoot my p22 like a champ though. Too many range commandos and salesmen refuse to understand that stopping power is meaningless if you cant even handle the weapon.
SR22 is my main self defense gun and 100% confident I can put a stop to a moving deadly threat with 2-3shots. Bought the P22 just because it's German made as a backup edc gun.
Hopefully his sweater isnt too thick!
Love my little Beretta 21a. I've had it for 35 years. keep it stuffed with CCI mini mags. It's never let me down.
I am probably going to replace my 21a daily carrier for that Ruger LCP2 22lr. I really want a semi auto with an extractor for primer failures. I also sometimes get a stovepipe. I shoot only CCI Mini-Mags and JHP but not Velocitors. My 21a is VERY old though - almost 25 years.
Mine either brother
@@BrandonIT1337 with the Pop up barrel any malfunction is fixed in seconds with a little weekly practise, worse case scenario type deals.. I practise with my Beretta in one where I dropped my mag... Single shot mod, flipping the barrell open for each shot.. gotten pretty good , a shot about every second an a half..fired accurately
😎 I never leave home without my little cat
@@BrandonIT1337 my Bobcat is also a 1994 model so older. When and if I ever have to flip the barrel open it goes all the way over and usually empties itself. I noticed I got some bad CCI a few years back when the 22 shortage was going on, I started using the new Thunderbolts and have never really had any issues. Just saying
I used to hate the idea of carrying .22 for self defense and would've laughed at anyone who did. Problem is...now my shooting hand is arthritic and there's days it hurts to even grip my handgun tightly enough to control recoil. I'll take a look at these next time I'm at the gun shop
Just a thought...
The newest version of the M&P 2.0Compact 9mm with the improved trigger has very little recoil. Flat shooter. I know because I own it👍. High sights. Accurate and reliable as he'l-l*
These caliber arguments will never go away. Nice video Plinkster.
Hey Plinkster. Like this video. I’d love to see the same type video for .22 mag and .32 acp handguns. In my opinion, the .32 acp is underrated, and I wish there were more handgun options for it. Many of those who struggle with .380 and up, could handle the .32 acp and would be well served by it, in a decent platform.
I remember I was at a local gun shop and a middle aged man was there with his elderly mother. They were looking for a self defense gun for mom and the staff seemed dead set on having her get a 9mm semi-auto striker fired handgun. I watched as the old lady struggled for 15 mins trying to rack the damn slide. The whole time I just wanted to scream, get he a revolver....jeez.
It’s a good thing you didn’t speak up
I'm sure she'll be a real John Wick when it comes to using her gun for self defense. I'm sure it'll go very well.
Beats nothing. Jeez!
My mom is getting her license to carry and she is 55 with rheumatoid arthritis. This video was a lot of help picking out a firearm for her. I think we are going with the SR22.
The lady counting down spooked me a little lol
That was Ava Flannel doing the voice over. 🤣
"Women scare the hell out of me" ~Quote from John Wayne.
I was both titillated and terrified .
Reminds me of resident evil lol
@@alantaylor203 don't say that! Words have power. Refuse to curse yourself with your words.
The SR22 with an extended magazine is a must. Love that gun.
Where do you get the extended magazine kit?
Yea if ya got the extra bucks, those things are expensive.
I have. Taurus TX22 that i like very well, I like the 16+1 mag. I’ve put about 500 rounds through it without a single misfire.
Ditto!! My sister and sister-in-law both have arthritis and have trouble with a 380 or 9mm. I bought the TX22 and like shooting it. At the range, both could handle the gun well and shoot with respectable results. My M&P 2.0 9mm is way too much for them. The Glock 42 is...well, I don't like it (too small for me hands) and my brother is trading that in for a TX22. Yes, we are old farts, but enjoying the 2A!!
My wife, my mom, my mother in law all struggle with 380 and up. 22lr reliability has been a problem but after my p22 had a little work done, it's a great little pistol for anyone struggling to handle larger calibers.
You should also look at the Smith & Wesson 43 C; an 8 shoot 22 LR Air Lite revolver made with aluminum; weighs only 11 oz. Great pocket gun and shoots great.
M&P 22 is a great training pistol for new shooters. My nieces and nephew started out with this gun and quickly got comfortable with bigger rounds.
22lr had a 13 to 14 inches penetration and also they hace hollow point and segmented bullets so yes it can be use in self defense
My Beretta 21A Bobcat in 22lr has been a terrific firearm for me for years. It's #1 in my book.
In Colorado it's legal for an 18-year-old to open carry and I personally carry a Ruger SR22 using a CCI standard ammunition never had an issue out of it every time I take it to the range it runs perfectly I've never had a jail it's super easy clean and it's really fun gun and I've hit the mini Coke cans at 35 yards with it
Good video. I have the Ruger (LCR and LCP) as well as the SR 22. Great guns. Totally, ridiculously reliable. Even with the best, top of the line ammo I get the occasional misfire, or failure to eject round. Murphy’s Law....If it’s gonna happen, it will happen when you can least afford it to happen. In the end, I carry the LCR. Hands down!!
I love my Browning 1911-22. It's a perfect hand full, accurate and reliable. It's much less expensive to fire than my full size 1911.
Cool
TX22 still seems like the best option but I'm Taurus biased too. Me and my wife carry a Taurus G2C with Olight PL Mini 2s and I have a vortex viper red dot on mine. Although I have many other very expensive firearms, it's my go to now for concealed carry. 100% reliable and incredibly accurate.
I got a Tx22 last month awesome gun✌️
i got a taurus g3c too and it has 0 malfunctions but not as accurate as my hkvp9or... for the price i don't see why g3c does not sell out everywhere they are definitely top notch for what you pay
My wife and i both carry. Her favorite is the Walther P22Q. Awesome smooth accurate easy to load and chamber. Not too heavy or bulky. Perfect for smaller hands. She has several guns in various calibers but shes happiest with the .22. If shes comfortable and confident im perfectly happy with her defending herself with it. Its not "better than nothing". In capable hands its deadly.
Ruger SR22 is my favorite. carried it for awhile. My parents liked it so much they both bought one and they carry it. Good Video!
LCP2 with 11 round, a safety, small, and fits great in pocket or purse. I assume a laser is coming, else LCR. The SR does shoot nice, but hide ability factors in.
My girlfriend was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis a few years back, I’ve been researching what .22 pistol I should get her for self defense. This is the first video I’ve seen acknowledging the needs of those affected by this disease! Those that go through it are troopers if you know someone with it you know. Thanks!
Comment not related to shooting, but it definitely keeps me shooting. I have inflammatory arthritis, diagnosed as RA. I found that avoiding gluten and taking curcumin helps more than the medication that I used to take, and no need for routine blood tests!
Thank you Plinkster. I bought an SR22 pistol years ago and I have yet to have a complaint with it. Every 22 review has the SR22 somewhere in the top 3. Seriously every top# review. I think it really is the best 22lr handgun. I just feel like any hand gun that is consistantly in the top 3 if not higher is great. That's why I say SR22 is #1.
"When you start poking holes in people they tend to leave you alone." - Gunblast
@Dem 1 I can't find a single video of anybody getting shot in the face or knees and continuing to fight. the biggest man in the world will fall if you shoot him in the kneecap or face for that matter.
@Israel Poulard OK whats he name so I can google him. Surely he would have made the newspapers by such an event.
@Israel Poulard My best friend got shot with anti tank ammo and he was still able to crawl with only the remaining top half of his body and his guts falling out towards the attacker, outwrestle him and choke him out! Guns debunked.
@@rubetornabene8543 I had a buddy get hosed down by 20 mm anti aircraft rounds from a phalanx completely liquefying his body and left him as nothing more than a puddle of blood and feces and he still managed to get up and get 300 confirmed kills in Iraq before he died 16 months later from choking on a sandwich. So I dont go out with anything less than 5"54cal naval artillery strapped to my hip.
@@darkworlddenizen lmfao
The laser you have on the Ruger is what I have on my M&P. That is what I started training my daughter when she was 12. That will be hers when she's old enough.
I'd feel cheated if I tried to rob Plinkster and didn't get shot with a 22 stanger..
You win the internet for today.
You'd likely get shot multiple times by stangers, all trick shots.
Ask him give you a haircut with blend in trim
enticed2zeitgeist Haha! That was pretty dang funny, but so true at the same time, since he is the best .22 trick shooter known to man right now.
Yep I can see it now. I said a .22 , no wait I meant a 22lr, not a .223 .
The SR22 is a great little gun to have fun plinking with….I carry a 9mm for defense,. I practice all the time with my SR 22…great video…
I just recently purchased a new Taurus 942. Revolver in 22LR. It was defective out of the box, would not ignite any primers. Sent it back to Taurus, after waiting 3 weeks for an update they finally answered their customer service line. They said the frame was so defective they would need to destroy the firearm and issue me a new one, replacing the serial number. Wait 8 weeks for delivery and I have to do an FFL transfer AND pay for it. Just a heads up.
I went with a Tx22 and got mag extensions so I’m working with 20 rd mags. You wanna talk about self defense...well 20 rounds should do it. Threaded barrel....reliable as hell.
You live in some kind of fantasy world where an attacker would let you shoot them 20x w/o shooting you back or something, right?
@@SandaBoxing If they are shooting back, then it won't matter what you are firing. You kinda missed the point.
@@dragnridr05 You completely missed the point. What do you think a firefight is? You fight, in this case, to the possible death. Is that your mentality, to quit and accept death when someone's fighting back by returning fire b/c your garbage .22LR didn't do it's job quick enough? Why do you think COPS don't carry .22LR and neither do soldiers....because it's dumb and they care about their lives more than dum-dums with their .22LR
@@SandaBoxing A well placed shot with a 22lr can drop ANYONE like a sack of potatoes. Ask ANYONE who works in a hospital or as a nurse.
In a firefight, it won't matter what either side is shooting. It becomes a matter of life or death.
I could just as easily kill a person with a 4.5mm metal BB gun with a well placed shot.
Majority if not all the governmental roles like police and military use 9mm or high because that is the standard that they ALL use. Easier to make one caliber for all than to make dozens of different calibers.
Remember that it was a .22lr that almost killed Reagan.
If a .22lr is enough to put a 550lb boar, then it can EASILY put down a 200lb man. It's all in how much you practice and get to know how the gun handles.
@@dragnridr05 (1) You need to understand what a SELF DEFENSE shooting is first, child. No kidding that
any bullet can kill.
(2) Why doesn't it matter in a firefight what caliber either side is shooting. Why do
Police & Military spends billions trying looking for the best caliber?
(3) Reagan was shot by assassination; are you an assassin now? Do you go around shooting your attacker by surprise? Wouldn't this make you, the actual attacker? See how absurd you are? Shooting a boar is
hunting; you're shooting an animal by surprise from a distance away. Are you hunting humans by surprise now too? See how silly you are because you don't
understand what a SELF DEFENSE shooting is?
Taurus TX22 should have had a spot on this list. I would also add in the new 942 wheel gun that Taurus introduced again this year in 22lr and 22 mag.
I have both the TX22 and the Taurus 942...very happy with both!
I was wondering about that one!! I am debating between the Ruger sr22 and the taurus tx22. any thoughts on that specific comparison, and for a woman?
@@neptuneomen9579 Taurus would likely be better. Higher capacity, a little less expensive, equally reliable, no magazine lock and dry fire safe, so much easier to practice empty with than the Ruger. Ruger shoots and feels nice, but they got stuck in target gun mindset when they designed this one, IMO.
Im still waiting , next week on December 15 2021 it will be a year since i ordered a taurus 942 .
Nice list. I myself, would of put the Taurus TX-22, & their new 22 revolver, on the list. But that's just me...
Is that the one that weighs like nothing?
@@shanetoumey2835 Yeah, it's their 942, I believe; it is a rather nice looking revolver. For me, it was a toss-up between that or the Charter Arms Pathfinder Lite (which is what I chose).
They need to make a compact tx-22. It’s a nice gun but definitely big as is
Tx22 for sure
I'm still looin' for one of their 22 Mag. snubby revolvers. I think that would be a sick ankle gun. I'm old tho!
22plinkster, I'm 73. I've got LCP2 .22, LCR22, Walter P22 plus Beretta21a, Taurus PT22 poly. Never had any problems with any of them. My favorite? LCP2 .22. Wish I could carry bigger caliber but I'm one of those 20%er that cannot fire larger caliber cause of arthritis. Actually I think it may be 30-40%. Thanks for video.
Love my S&W .22 Compact and Ruger LCP 2. My biggest concern about .22 for self defense would be barrier penetration. Thanks for sharing.
This video is very well timed with Lehigh Defense's announcement that they'll be making the Extreme Defender round available in .22LR.
I currently have the PPK/S, PPQ, and LCR in .22, and look to expand the collection.
Andrew Gonos I also have a PPK in 22lr and love it though also I am a James Bond fan lol hence why I have it
@@CrimsomLeo That's why I got it, too. The .380 was damn near impossible to find, at the time, so I said I'll just get the .22 for plinking. I do carry it, sometimes, when I need a really small carry gun.
Yea my father laugh when he saw the pistol and stated that he never should have introduced me to Jame Bond lol
I haven't seen or heard anything about Lehigh 22lr
@@206guy7 There's an article on TFB (The Firearms Blog). www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2019/12/11/sneak-peek-lehigh-defense-develops-22lr-ammo-with-solid-xd-bullets/
I started out carrying a .40, went to a 9mm for a few years, carried a smaller .380 on occasion. I can handle all of them fine, I’m a male in my 30’s and I workout, I’ve also shot guns since I was 16. I like to shoot my carry guns frequently and at various ranges, so they get wear and I go through a decent amount of ammo. The last couple of mass shootings have taught me that ammo markers and stores that sell ammunition don’t care about their customers and will raise the price for any reason they see fit, any excuse they can come up with, it’s worse than buying gas on a holiday weekend. 17 years ago when I got my first 9mm it was $5.99 for a box of 50, it went up to about $13.99, then during the pandemic, $49.99-$59.99 for the exact same thing! That’s when I got realistic about the off chance that I would ever need to use a firearm in defense. If I do ever need it, I could care less if the person I have to shoot lives or dies, the only thing I’d be doing would be trying to stop him, I’m sure with my capabilities I can adapt and improvise to make a .22 work in that regard. I’m certainly not going to be a little pawn for everybody in the industry to line their pockets with my money. I have other responsibilities, spending .50 cents to $1 every single time I pull the trigger is not only limiting, it’s ridiculous. A cartridge is not worth .50 cents, certainly not $1, .30 cents is even expensive for what it is, especially given that the majority of them you ever fire will just be making a hole in a piece of paper. So my using a .22 is partly because I think I’m good enough I don’t NEED anything more, and partly because I’m not going to be a sucker and buy into this self defense as a hobby thing. I mean the ammo makers and gun writers aren’t stupid, they’ve got a lot of people convinced they’re going to be in a gunfight one day and they need the nastiest most expensive rounds out there because “what is your life worth”, they’re very clever. I’m pretty sure they’ve taken over a lot of people from golfing. I used to be a sucker tbh, dress around my carry gun, carry only premium Hollow points in calibers on often exact same firearms police carried…. After having carried for a decade and a half and spent WAY too much money on a lot of that stuff, I’m kinda over it. I love shooting and I still carry a gun, mostly in a sling pack with other stuff, but I only use and spend my money on one caliber now, .22
Couldn't have said it better myself. I like 9mm, but these prices are simply ridiculous. How can I practice proficiently at the range without spending exorbitant amounts of money just to keep my skills in check? I'm thinking that 22 LR is all I need for most cases. What matters most isn't really the type of caliber one uses but shot placement. With 22, I can practice all day and not break my piggy bank and improve my precision and accuracy drastically. I'm even experimenting with a binary trigger on my Ruger Charger.
Anyways, what type of 22 do use for EDC? I use Federal Premium 22 LR Punch.
The Taurus TX 22 Lr is awesome! 16 + 1 rounds!
I really hope they make a compact tx22
I've owned an SR22 for many years. I do occasionally carry it as a backup gun. The safety has never bothered me as it's the only handgun I own with a manual safety. The "upside down" safety is right side up to me. I love everything about the SR22. Great ergonomics, great trigger, conceals well and looks good. You can't go wrong with this gun unless you're a manual safety snob.
I’ve had the Walther P-22 for over a decade and have put over 50,000 rounds through it; have replaced normal wear parts and have been through a lot of recoil springs. The best thing I ever did was switch to an aftermarket captive recoil spring assembly; these lasts 2-3 times as long as the Walther springs. My Walther is still reliable with with bulk ammo and 99.9% with CCI Mini-Mags. I’ve never been a big believer of rimfire defensive firearms but if I had to I’d trust this firearm to save my life if I couldn’t carry centerfire.
for some reason mini mags get stuck in the chamber on my p22, unless I fire it or use a blade/screwdriver then it'll come out, but just racking the slide to eject it wont do anything sometimes, now with standard velocity with no copper plated bullet, it ejects just fine...
I love my SR-22, probably one of my favorite guns overall.
The backwards safety on the Ruger is why I bought the S&W M&P instead
ruger needs to rework that thing for sure
I just don’t use the safety and carry hammer down with OIC. Been working for me for years no problems.
There are many, many pistols with the safety this way- Beretta 92, lots of CZ and similar, and basically most DA/SA pistols with external hammer. What's the big deal, just practice.
@@eldritchshiner If you only ever practice with one type of firearm, good. But it can become confusing when you regularly shoot multiple firearms and 3 out of 4 have a standard safety and one has a reversed safety.
@@eldritchshiner I think it's to do with the de-cocking mechanism. Most double action pistols with a combine safety/de-cocker have the switch operate that way round. It must be for a mechanical design reason, probably simpler to do it that way or something like that.
SR22 was my favorite. Tarsus TX22 is much better shooting, 16 round, extremely reliable. Now my new favorite
Why is it better? I'm debating between these two
@@neptuneomen9579 SR 22 is a great, quality gun. But after buying a TX22 it is now my favorite. Grip fits my hand better, extremely reliable. I haven't had a single misfire with any price ammo. Sights and trigger excellent. Love that it has a safety, and I carry with 16 +1 of cci velocitors. Have bad autherits in wrists but can practice without discomfort. Hope this helps
@@stevebutler8387 Yeah it does!! Thank you. I heard some are ammo picky so good to know abt the TX22 that its not.
thank you for self defense info. The 22 caliber is good for a senior lady to start with. I am concerned about the kickback of a gun and availability of the amo. thank you...
Thank you for the concise & informative vid. It's nice to have so many videos dedicated to the .22.
SR22 is my favorite 22lr pistol, it has a nice thick walled barrel but I totally agree about the safety...
My sr22 will reliably feed the crappiest of ammo. Hardly ever get duds with it when I'm at the range
Rafael Ruiz I do the same, put over 3 thousand through mine, a couple misfires.
A little wear on the slide. Doesn’t dirty up much, it balances nice too.
I have both the sr22 and the lcr 22. The sr22 is just a joy to shoot. The lcr is really hard to get good groups in, I can effectively shoot my sr22 at 7-15 yards but I can't do the same with the lcr :/
I really try to get better at the revolver but for some reason it's way harder to shoot for me.
@@DaCrazyMofo last time I ran my lcr I was ringing steal at a 1000... 🤣🤣🤣
@@noluckpureskill9985 feet or yards? Doubt the 22 even goes past 100 yards lmao. Glad you're a good shot tho I definitely need more range time!
I took a semester in college called "Organized Crime" where we learned that the 22 caliber was preferred by MAFIA hit-men. Effective and relatively quiet.
Mossad used it for assassination for that reason too I believe. The less people looking your way the better.
A 22 short with the barrel pressed directly against flesh is really quiet and has plenty of penetration.
@@aesbj9228 navy seals also used a ruger mk2 22lr suppressed. Not sure if they still use it or not but I know for a time they did.
@@aesbj9228 That's right. The Mossad took out the Munich Olympics terrorists with a Beretta M71 suppressed in 22 lr
out of a short barrel, there's enough power to penetrate the skull but not enough to exit so it will bounce around inside making tapioca pudding
suppressed and no one will hear it more than 15 feet away
out of a revolver, there aren't even casings left behind to trace
Speaking strictly self defense the old adage about rimfire is revolvers are more dependable so for me I'd have to go with the revolver in this video hands down.
I have the M&P and SR22.
The M&P if you have a big hand fits great and it’s a full size pistol.
The SR22 when I held it for the first time. Right away I thought what a neat little Gun to carry. I did replace the Guide Rod with a Tandemkross and the Gun cycles just about everything.
I would add to this list esp. for WheelGun shooters and I love WheelGuns. The S&W model 63, 8 Shot 3 in barrel.
I find, especially in Summer, that I usually have on me the Ruger LCP II in 22 LR. This pistol is a jam-o-matic with everything but CCI Mini Mags. The gun has NEVER misfired or failed to feed or eject with the Mini Mags. So that's what I carry in it.
Feeling ok? Thanks for the content. The endless debate over whether or not 22 LR is viable wasn’t even considered here and I appreciate that. As many people said it’s a 22 but statistically more people are killed with 22 handguns in the other probably because there’s so many of them. I have one that I do carry for self-defense, it’s a tack driver, I have like 1000 rounds through it it’s not even a year old, but I can put all 10 shots in a 3 inch circle doing a mag dump at 50 feet. If that won’t save my life nothing will.
that's a myth, barely anyone dies from .22
@@AR15andGOD lol any experienced EMT or ER doc will tell you that it is completely false. LOTS of people die from 22's
When I was young, in the 70's and 80', misfires with .22 rimfires was common. I don't shoot as much .22 rimfire as I used to. But it seems that in this millennium, .22 rimfire is much more reliable, at least in some guns. Can you comment on the reliability of 21st century .22 rimfire ammo?
Rimfire ammo has gotten MUCH better. There are also lots of affordable high quality .22 LR firearms out now. In general centerfire is still far more reliable.
The revolver gets my #1 in this list, more reliable and easy to get in .22mag
Only problem with 22 mag is that it's way more expensive than 22lr.
@@badgumby9544 quite a few .22 revolvers have cylinders you can swap out so you can practice with .22LR and then carry .22Mag
@@library_dork1321 there are tons of stories out there of people defending themselves with 2 shot .22 derringers, so a 6 shot mag is 3 times better if you want to look at it that way.
@@library_dork1321 Practice more and you'll shoot better.
.22 WMR? Wrong video. I mean, I guess I like the LCP2 in .22 lr, because it's easy to get in .380 ACP. Wha?
Not apposed to this list. But i would have included the kel tec p17 somewhere in here. Great, reliable gun with 16 round stock mags
Thank you 100 times over. I'm 70 years old. Not only do I have arthritis in my hands. I also have diabetic neuropathy, which has damaged the nerves in my hand. Even a .380 is quite painful for me to shoot. The 22lr is the ONLY thing I can still shoot comfortably. I run across "experts" who tell me that I should still carry a .380 or a 9mm for self defense as the pain won't matter in a life or death situation. But one of the key aspects of using any firearm for self defense is that you must be proficient and comfortable with the gun you shoot. And that requires three things ... practice, practice and practice. Which the average person won't do adequately if it's a painful experience. And if you get used the fact that firing the gun will be painful, the flinch factor starts to come into play. A 22lr in the right spot is far preferable to a 9mm that completely misses because you flinch.
The Ruger sr22 is a blast, love that thing!
thang
@ma tem I've got big hands, too - but this tiny thing is in a league of its own. ;-)
I have one and it is the loudest 22 I have ever fired. Shoots good though.
No one's talking PRICE! how much on average are you guys dropping for these guns? Figured I'd get one for my 80 year old mom for a SUPER Hella late mother's day gift..
Side note : hope she doesn't decide to "make me dance" since we're in Texas.. Have me tap dancing in the kitchen to take the trash out 😂 #DanceMfdance 👈😉 😂
a double stack magazine version of the m&p-22 would be welcome.
I believe they thought of this gun mostly as a trainer for their M&P's in 9 and 40, so capacity wasn't priority. Taurus or Keltec have some higher capacity 22's.
"A 22LR better than a sharp stick" I love that.
Cemeteries are fool .22 victims
James Blond carried a stick with a nail in it for years.
First one of your videos I've seen. I like the get to the point presentation style and easy going demeaner. Looking for a 22 for my sweetie who is not strong enough to be comfortable with larger caliber weapon but wants something to at least give her a chance when she is home alone. Great video for that.
Love my SR22. Fun little gun to shoot and is the only handgun I own that my son (11yrs old) can shoot. He has smaller hands but this gun fits him
Love how ppl say "I'd never use a 22lr for defense" it's better than nothing by far and plenty lethal with correct shot placement, and with the ability to mag dump and stay on target I think theyll be taken care of
and I can never find any volunteers to prove it -- one way or another
Back when I was ill and weak in my hands, my go to was a ruger MkIII
my brother scoffed " what can you do with that?" I replied put 10 in him, drop the magazine, reload and put 10 more in him. I believe it would at least discourage him as shots would go to head, chest and crotch.
I now can use my Ruger 380. Learned to shoot pistol in the marines, at age 73 I am not Rambo, but I refuse to be a victim in my home
@@Bada_Boom78 ya I was jus going on the lines of it's better than nothing no doubt. If a 10/22 is the only rifle I have to fight with I'm gunna fight with it if a 22lr pistol is only option available for defense I'm gunna use everyday of the week and twice on Sundays. But of course a 9mm is what I would choose if I had the choice. I literally have all the calibers everyone hates and yet I love them to pieces. The whole 9mm ain't enough bs, the whole 223 ain't enough bs, 300 blackout is useless bs, 224 Valkyrie is garbage bs, 6.5 is the Gucci cartridge that's not needed cuz I got my granpappys 260 from 70 years ago bs and on an on and on
.22LR works great for offense. Should work equally as well for self defense. :)
@@tombob671 amen brother, glad to hear your doing better and can use the 380
Would LOVE a suppressor ready 22lr RUGER LCP2 in 22lr!!
Yep. I also want an extended/threaded .380 barrel for the LCP2, but for some reason i can only find those for the original LCP. Boo!
Sure, but what caliber?
I picked up a Taurus PT 22 Poly. The ergonomy, fit, and finish are exceptional. I had zero failures with my first 91 rounds. I feel like they out-Beretta’d the Beretta Bobcat.
plus tilt barrel loading is easier for older folks great gun
It’s sweet. They gotta make a compact version soon
So you favor the ruger sr22...i don't blame you,it's a great little gun,just bought one today and i'm very happy with it...gonna carry it now and then,i just have to decide whether to load it with cci minimags,velocitors or the newly bought "Stangers"...decisions,decisions...😁
Very outstanding presentation. Agree with you on Ruger safety. Was my FIRST CHOICE however S & W is now. Thanks
I haven’t considered carrying 22lr for self defense but if I ever did it’d have to be the 8 shot LCR, mainly cause of reliability. 👍🏻
Hi! I would have enjoyed the video if it was split up into two five 22cal groups. First group the 22lr. The second group would be the 22magnum group.
I was pulling for the Heritage Rough Rider with the 16" barrel making this list. LOL
nickolson joker
I have the combo 22lr/magnum fun little plinkster..
I beg to differ with the safety because on the draw pulling it out of your holster while gripping with your thumb get in the motion of flicking it up and I believe all Rugers are up because my P-Series are also.The down motion is just another movement but on the up you can do it as pulling it out of the holster and I believe my nickel bersa 380 is the same also .
The safety on the Ruger works opposite of most other safeties. Up is fire. Deal breaker for me. Had one for awhile and couldn't get used to it.
Traded it for the MP22 full size and never looked back.
Just picked up the MP22 compact and it's amazing!!! This would be my choice.
What about the Ruger Standard series with a 4& 5/8 barrel? Almost perfect.
I was a patrol watch commander for a very long time in the murder capital of Florida and as such had to go to all the homicides. Most were typical, some stand out. One in particular was a guy laying on his back on the walkway to a house with a tiny little hole in the middle of his chest. He was threatening a 90 year old man who shot him through a door with a.... .22LR. One shot, DRT, never took a step. Yep, it'll get the job done if you do your part. Graveyards are full of doubters no more.
I've sat on one murder trial jury and the victim was shot with a 25 acp
Good info from real life on the job experience , Thank You
@snoopy dubnation First question, no. We carried .40's at the time; Second, I carry 9mm's, but don't dismiss outright .22LR as a defensive option. At this point in my life, I have better ones, but would later on if that's what I could handle. Standing over a stadium full of dead men at least gives me the first hand confidence that if I do my part, I can keep Darwinism valid.
@snoopy dubnation I think you're missing the point of the video...the larger discussion...and my comment(s). The .22LR is ABSOLUTELY an effective self defense round and has likely killed more people in defensive situations than 9s and 40s combined. Is it a first choice? Not for many, but for some it is an only choice, and for them it is a GREAT choice. Any gun is better than any knife in a self defense situation. Just because you (or I) can carry something more effective doesn't mean that it's a bad idea for someone with fewer choices. Could I carry something more devastating than a 9mm? Sure. I'm a 200lb ex-powerlifter. I'm frankly tired of the kick from setting off grenades in my hand for 30 years, so I carry a 9. To each his own. But saying someone is foolish for carrying what they can is not a winning argument, especially when the facts are lined up against you. If you want to carry a .45, great. Just don't go pissing on other's choices in different situations. Pistols are emergency weapons and 6 out of 7 people shot with them live...6 out of 7 people shot with long guns don't. So it's like debating about who's chihuaha is the meanest. They aren't all that. If you want to win, go 12ga.
Thanks for sharing the gritty honest truth.
I have carpal tunnel in my hands so I appreciate this video!
I have a lot of handguns, but always seem to pick up my SR22 going out the door. Eats anything I feed it; never once jammed on me. I have a crimson laser sight, and soon I will be getting a few 15 round mags, thanks to 22 Plinkermiester
I picked up a Ruger LCR last year (although it is in .38 Special not .22) damn fine gun!
So the Taurus is where? In the lineup? Also, where is the prices? I'm on a budget.
None of these are expensive. Availability will be the hard part. Haven't seen a LCP II for sale here in almost a year.
Got the M&P22 myself and I love it! Feelin’ that shirt too where can I buy that?
"It has an ambi safety, on both sides." Lol
I just bought smith M&P 22 so far 600 rounds 0 problems great gun
I’d like to see a top 5 value pick .22 handgun video, that’s usually what I look for with whatever I buy, best value for money.
Ruger Mark II/III/IV pistols have been the most reliable semi-A .22 pistols in my experience. Keep them clean.
I can shoot anything and I carry my 22” pistol 10+1 and 2 extra 10 rounds mags trust it with my life
Wich pistol are you carrying ? Im stuck between the m&p and the sr22
Mp 22 compact and I carry it because it’s light and I carry it comfortably
And if I didn’t get great reliability I wouldn’t carry it I didn’t just put it on and say well I hope this thing works and any carry gun you test a lot
Matt Barton Thx for the reply im considering the m&p c but leaning toward the sr22 . Do you have experience with both ? The sr may be a bit heavier but still very easy to conceal .
How do you conceal a 22 inch pistol? I’d choose something much more practically sized.
SR22 safety is also a de-cocker hence its configuration with up for fire.
Usually those style of guns the safety is up on the slide like the old Smith's and Berettas
I'd love to see this revisited with some of the 22LR's that have come out recently. Would the Sig 322 be in the list now?
Your observations of the safety "backwards" is my only complaint with the SR22. Great plinker. Good review.